On the Catholic Exchange website, Br. John Chrysostom Kozlowski, OP, has the first in a series of reflections for the Advent season. In addition, Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau, OP, has the first video installment, also available on the Catholic Exchange website. There is also a video link-up below.

From what I understand, I'm going to a baptism reception tomorrow with this guy's wife. Small world...

In any case, I'm largely unfamiliar with his work, but it comes highly recommended from a friend (Max Goss, former editor of the Right Reason blog, where Francis Beckwith - at that time the president of the Evangelical Theological Society - announced his reversion to the Catholic faith).

Based in my experience with Max, I'm really looking forward to these lectures.

Face it -- you and your loved ones are going to die someday. Maybe that day will be soon, maybe not. Either way, you're best served by being prepared to die NOW. In particular, it's critical that your wills, powers of attorney, etc., be made before you need them -- you can always change them later, but you can never make them posthumously.

Don't forget, you can make it a part of your will that the beneficiaries have masses said for your soul. If it turns out that you don't need them (i.e., you're in heaven with the Church Triumphant rather than the Church Suffering), through God's grace they will still be efficacious for your holy brothers and sisters in in Purgatory.

Do yourself a favor and listen to this ten part series so you'll know (1) how best to care for those you love and (2) how best to help those who love you care for you. The (eternal) life you save may be your own.

Debbie Currin of Currin, Wuest, Mielke, Paul, and Knapp (in Kingwood, TX) has concentrated her practice in wills, trusts, and probate since 1986 when she received her law degree (J.D.) from South Texas College of Law

Deacon Alfredo Soto, born in Bogotá, Colombia, worked for 23 years at the World Bank in Washington, DC. Also, he was Director of the Permanent Diaconate Program in the Archdiocese of Washington, where he was ordained in 2000. He is a civil engineer and an economist. Deacon Alfredo joined the Diocese of Galveston-Houston in July of 2004, working as Director of Social Services at St. Martha’s Parish in Kingwood. He has conducted a number of retreats in the Washington area and in other cities, including Houston, and was a Chaplain at the National Institute of Health, in Bethesda, Maryland from August, 2000 until April, 2004.

Fr. Bill Oliver,native of Chicago, IL, pastor of St. John the Evangelist parish in Baytown, TX for past 10 years, has a Master’s Degree in Liturgy with specialization in Catholic Funeral Rites from St. John’s, Collegeville, MN, 1984. He attended seminary here in Houston at St. Mary’s Seminary beginning in 1968 and was ordained in 1977. Fr. Bill has been on various diocesan committees including the RCIA Steering Committee, and helps with the Office of Worship. In 1995, he drafted Abp. Joseph Fiorenza’s letter on the pastoral care for the sick and dying, as well as worked on the new dicesan manual for the pastoral care of the sick and dying.

Fr. Bill Oliver,native of Chicago, IL, pastor of St. John the Evangelist parish in Baytown, TX for past 10 years, has a Master’s Degree in Liturgy with specialization in Catholic Funeral Rites from St. John’s, Collegeville, MN, 1984. He attended seminary here in Houston at St. Mary’s Seminary beginning in 1968 and was ordained in 1977. Fr. Bill has been on various diocesan committees including the RCIA Steering Committee, and helps with the Office of Worship. In 1995, he drafted Abp. Joseph Fiorenza’s letter on the pastoral care for the sick and dying, as well as worked on the new dicesan manual for the pastoral care of the sick and dying.

Christine Price,a graduate of Marquette University, later received a degree in counseling from J.F.K. University in San Francisco, CA. After moving to Kingwood in 1992 Christine went to Mortuary School here in Houston and became a licensed Funeral Director.She started a support group, “Picking Up the Pieces,” in March, 1997. Facilitating the group every Tuesday night for ten years, Christine has been helping thousands of people cope with their loss, understand their feelings, and discover how to move forward and engage in life again.

Christine Price,a graduate of Marquette University, later received a degree in counseling from J.F.K. University in San Francisco, CA. After moving to Kingwood in 1992 Christine went to Mortuary School here in Houston and became a licensed Funeral Director.She started a support group, “Picking Up the Pieces,” in March, 1997. Facilitating the group every Tuesday night for ten years, Christine has been helping thousands of people cope with their loss, understand their feelings, and discover how to move forward and engage in life again.

Fr. Oscar Cantu iis a native of Houston, baptized at Holy Name Parish, where he now serves as pastor. He is a product of our local Catholic schools (Holy Name, St. Thomas, UST). Fr. Oscar has served as parochial vicar at various parishes in the Houston area — St. Christopher’s, St. Cecilia’s, and St. Frances Cabrini. Fr. Oscar did post graduate studies in Rome at the Gregorian University. He teaches part-time in the theology department at the University of St. Thomas.

They've just uploaded a video expose of, It's Perfectly Normal, a book supposedly for kids ages 9-12 that has been banned from at least one prison as pornographic.

News to me, the book lists the anus as a sex organ, certainly not its original or ongoing purpose.

And the decent among us have united. It's Perfectly Normaltopped the American Library Association's list of "most frequently challenged books of 2005" for "homosexuality, nudity, sex education, religious viewpoint, abortion and being unsuited to age group," and ranked #15 in ALA's list of "100 most frequently challenged books 1990-2000" - even though it was published more than halfway through the decade, in 1996.

Of course, Planned Parenthood endorses It's Perfectly Normal. Good for business. The book promotes abortion, of course.

Learning to appreciate the Eucharistic Liturgy as a participation in the eschatological Wedding Feast of the Lamb, made present in anticipation, through the Holy Spirit in the celebration of the Catholic Mass.

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"Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ."
Rom 10:17(DRV)